M and S blames Brexit for fall in sales. What next?

M&S is the only place DD can find school trousers to fit her very tall but very thin 9 year old.

I never had any trouble finding big white cotton knickers for MIL but I'm more the frilly tat type myself.

Even their cotton chinos had changed this year - the fabric is more like twill and quite thick, and the finer cotton ones were not cut the same as usual.

Are BHS still online?

At least the DGD liked the clothes I bought them from M&S

I bought two pairs trousers and a short sleeved shirt for DH yesterday. Just going off to take it all back. I knew in my heart it wouldn't suit, but they had nothing for the older man. And now BHS has gone....

I have been reviewing clothes and accessories for M&S for years and they clearly do not take heed of the comments. They should understand that it is the grey pound which keeps them trading and provide suitable quality clothing. I was in the Arnison centre branch last week and could not find a single item of clothing that I liked. I thought I might fare better for the GC but it was no better.

I don't know your size auntbett, but I swear by primark knickers(the sloggi type) and you might like the following;

www.meandem.com/fine-stitch-longline-cardigan-black

ann60, I had a spending spree at the Handforth Dean BHS closing down sale last week! I saw a sign outside that suggested to me that Next would be moving there, though I might be wrong about that.

Wanted some traditional 'big' knickers, a black long line cardigan for work and a decent cotton T-shirt. What was I able to buy off this list? NOTHING!! Rails and rails of frilly tat.

I assumed the enormous bras were for women who had undergone breast augmentation
not necessarily Ginny42, it is just the way some people are. And, in fact, is not necessarily the way they would like to be as a young friend of mine would testify.

Handforth Dean is very nice but I wonder what will happen when BHS closes. It is one of the attractions being a home only store and the concessions in that store will surely close. Sorry for the diversion.

Ah, Handforth Dean
DD did her M&S management training there after she left university. I thought it was an excellent M&S in a those days (20 years ago) and rather upmarket of our local one at the time.
Must have been the footballers' wives.

In addition to all of the above, their stores are chaotic. To buy a sweater for example, you have to go to each section - Per Una; Classic; Autograph etc. It's just a mess and I gave up a long time ago. Saying that, I went to the Handforth Dean store with my sister who is still a fan, and bought a very stylish good quality suede jacket. The store was very busy, so perhaps it depends on the area too.

I assumed the enormous bras were for women who had undergone breast augmentation.

I like Debenhams
However, the denim blue trendy cardigan (if there is such a thing) I bought in Debenhams has come apart after two or three outings.
M&S are selling L'Occitane products (lovely) but again, Debenhams often have offers on them.

Why are they selling such expensive cosmetics? One of the great things about M&S used to be that their own cosmetics and bath and shower stuff were good quality at reasonable prices. I wouldn't have thought many of their core customers want the expensive stuff. Having said that, I love the fact that they are selling Fragonard perfume because I'm not likely to be going to France any more to buy it.

Last time I tried to help DH find a pair of trousers in a big M and S there was an acre of men's clothing but not a single member of staff to help. Just one person at the changing room. But nobody to advise in any way or help locate a particular size, style etc. In a small Debenhams by contrast there are staff to help, including one incredibly helpful staff member (age circa 70) who really knows his men's clothing and how they should be fitted. They also fail to sell men's t shirts etc in larger sizes. BH on the other hand catered for the big and burly.

why the heck are they selling 57 different brands from Ren to Roger Et Gallet?
I don't think even Boots do that!!

I jsut wanted some plain, smart, straight-legged linen trousers .....

I'm not in the slightest bit surprised that their sales are falling. In the Bath store this morning there were racks of sales clothing I wouldn't be seen dead in and there was nothing in the 'new in' categories that even vaguely caught my eye.
It's such a mish mash, and the beauty products are nothing short of confusing- why the heck are they selling 57 different brands from Ren to Roger Et Gallet?
I think they've totally lost the plot, and their key customers.

The shorts I bought for DGD were much nicer than the ones I bought for her from Next, I must say (and cheaper in the sale).

However, the women's sale items left much to be desired.
Actually, there was very little in the way of menswear or children's wear in the sale, so perhaps they are getting those right.

JessM I think they have the opinion that it is anything but them, and probably us and our age group!

We went into m&s today as DH was looking for a pair of deck shoes. He found a pair he liked but they didn't have his size. It took us an age to find an assistant, from whom we got the usual reply "if it isn't out, we don't have any, but we can order them in". I get really fed up with their "just in time" stocking policies. We went next door to Next, where they had exactly the same shoe, but again, no size seven. "No problem - we'll look in the stock room!" Size seven, job done. Thank you Next.

It continues to amaze me that they retain so many square kilometres of clothing retail space across the country when there is so much competition. I am more likely to buy something form H and M these days as the quality is not significantly different and H and M much better at classics, like plain cotton cardigans or t shirts.
However someone must be buying stuff from them, albeit in diminishing quantities.
Mystified why last winter all their apparently warm knitwear was 3/4 sleeve length.
I seem to recall that more than once in the past they have been invited on GN to do a web chat and consult the group who, one would think, are their core market.
I think they still have an arrogant culture which is not going to help them in the long term.

We went to M&S today - sale rack upon sale rack.
I was really excited when I walked in!

However, I came out with nothing whatsoever for me and a couple of garments for the DGD.
Even the food hall didn't inspire me today.
Nor did the full price clothes.

When oh when will M+S realise that their problem is that they have lost their way where fashion is concerned? It has absolutely NOTHING to do with Brexit.
I wear an outfit that I bought from M+S a few years ago which I love and everyone compliments me even now when I wear it. It is timeless and beautiful in style.
If I could find a pattern for this outfit, I would have several copies made in different colours.

M and S were my first choice years ago - the Pantheon flagship store in Oxford Street had some amazing clothes which often didn't appear elsewhere. I bought a beautiful black coat, 100% wool, which was still getting compliments ten years later. Not so now; their clothes are horrible. I looked in a local store only last week - quite a large one - and was dismayed to find that lots of the tops appeared to be made from a thick, stretchy nylon type fabric. Ten minutes wearing that in hot weather and you would be uncomfortably 'moist'! They announced a couple of seasons ago that they would be using a lot more natural fibres, but quite what has happened to that promise I can't imagine. When their clothes were made in this country they were well made from good fabrics, and you got rid of items because you were tired of them - they never wore out. They have absolutely nobody to blame but themselves, and all the above criticisms from other Gransnetters are so, so true!

Bluesmum, you should have cornered a member of staff and explained your situation, I'm sure they would have helped you. My husband cannot walk or stand for very long and we have been treated very kindly once people know of his problem.

Was in the merry hill store today desperately trying to find a non under wired bra and cotton knickers ( as was totally ashamed of my undies last time I hung them on the line) . I was there for over an hour and left totally frustrated with nothing!
Couldn't really see anything else that I fancied either. Face it M&S you're lost and out of touch. Very disappointing, I used to be such a big fan!?

Just come back from Bluewater in Kent, went to m&s lots of sales and loads of people buying. Do like the food from the food hall as well.